Final decision on Somerset Rebid

As some of you are aware, Wonders was granted a motion to intervene in the Farmland CDC lawsuit because as a nonprofit, Wonders and Farmland argued that the County’s Regulation for the rebid process does not adequately comply with Maryland law, which requires that nonprofits be given a priority in occupying public school space for before and after-school programs. Wonders learned today that we lost our request for a preliminary injunction in the Somerset Elementary School rebid. As a practical matter, this means that Wonders will not be serving the Somerset Community next year.

We are disappointed in the outcome and continue to believe that the current rebid process does not provide the required priority to nonprofits, and should be (but is currently not) based on quality indicators, fiscal transparency, and exclusive of offered incentives.

Wonders will continue to advocate on behalf of nonprofits. Since the current rebid process has been in place, for-profit before and after school companies have increased in their presence in school by at least 12% – operating in over 84% of the schools, while nonprofits have shrunk by 6%, and operate in just 16% of the schools.

We have appreciated the opportunity we have had to be a part of the Somerset community for the past 32 years. It has been very rewarding to nurture and guide your children’s growth and learning. We love staying connected to our alumni, so please do stay in touch! You will always be a part of the Wonders family.